Dental Amalgams
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2003 Jan / Feb VOL V NO 1.
Abstracted from the net by
Dr Vishpala Parthasarathy
Do Europeans Know Something We Don’t?
Heavy metals in general and amalgam dental fillings
containing mercury in particular, have received quite a bit of attention over
the last several years. As a result of research linking mercury poisoning to
problems from severe kidney and neurological damage to autoimmune diseases (MS,
chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic yeast and fungal infections, congenital birth
defects), some European countries like Denmark, Sweden and Germany, have taken
the step of prohibiting the use of amalgam fillings.
How Does the Poisoning Occur?
While exposure to heavy metals comes from car exhaust, heavy
industry, cigarette smoke, certain types of fish and contaminated water and
soil, the most common cause of exposure to mercury are dental amalgams. Chewing,
especially if fillings are old, can release vapours that are fat-soluble and
can, as a result, cross into the brain. Also, mercury has a high affinity for
the thyroid gland and the urinary tract organs. It can impair the activity of
many essential enzymes necessary for proper functioning of the body.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to measure the extent of exposure, until the
first symptoms occur a chronic disease.
How Does the Body Get Rid of the Metal?
The key defense against heavy metal toxicity is a healthy liver. There are
several biochemical components that assist in this process: the so-called
glutathione (a small protein), is the most important player, though all B
vitamins play a major role as well. The capacity of the liver to detoxify
mercury is limited, but whatever can be eliminated exits the body via the urine.
